Pakistan Change Initiative plans events to show the unseen side of country

Pakistan is not only about bombs and terrorists, says Ambreen Khan emphatically.

“It is much, much more,” says the Dubai-based Pakistani banker who is part of a group that has pledged to change the image of Pakistan through a series of events that will show the world an unseen side of the country.

Shahzad Waraich, Tooba Ghafur, Ambreen Khan and Sanober Salim who are trying to portray a positive image of Pakistan. —KT photo by Kiran Prasad

Pakistan Change Initiative (PCI), a non-profit group, was founded recently by a group of seven young Dubai expats who want to bring about change in a positive sense.

“First and foremost, we would like to change the perceptions of both Pakistanis and non-Pakistanis within the UAE business community,” explains group leader Tooba Ghafur.

The young fashion designer and ex-banker says that Pakistan is huge but its reputation is being tarnished by a handful of ill-meaning people. “In a country with over 170 million people, less than 0.1 per cent are performing terrorist activities. The rest of us want peace and stability so we can prosper and see our country grow like our neighbouring countries such as India, Bangladesh and the UAE,” she says.

Currently, the group has seven active members and three senior advisors. Over 130 members are on PCI’s mailing list, which, the members hope will grow by 150 per cent by the end of the year.

“Due to a certain type of media coverage, Pakistan is currently viewed as a highly volatile and insecure country which is not an ideal business environment,” says Ghafur.

“The fact of the matter is that there are certain areas in Pakistan which are volatile right now. However, 80 per cent of the country is stable,” she says.

“Our textile industry is the largest and Pakistan is the second largest exporter of textiles in the world. These factories are all located in areas that are fairly stable...This is the message that needs to get across,” she adds.

The group had a launch event in May in which between 50 and 60 people from the business community were invited and over 100 delegates from a wide range of expat community attended the event ‘Pakistan: The Untold Stories.’

“The feedback was extremely positive,” says Ambreen. Pakistan as a country is rich in natural resources — shale oil, gas, copper, gold, salt...It has breathtaking landscapes ranging from picturesque monsoon deserts to the highest mountain peaks in the Karakoum.

“Pakistanis are very hospitable and generous people. We are the third largest English-speaking nation in the world,” explains Ghafur.

“As the saying goes: “Pakistan is not a poor country but a poorly managed country.”

The group members believe that they will eventually make a difference. “As Pakistanis living abroad, we are obliged to contribute in some way other rather than just criticise,” says Ghafur. “History has taught us that it’s always a few determined individuals who bring about change,” she adds.

The group also shares positive stories about Pakistan on its website https://www.facebook.com/PakistanChangeInitiative

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE